Has Ferrari Lost It's Luster?

A lot of good points made here. A couple I'd like to share....

I don't entirely agree that the younger generation is to blame. Most of my similar aged car friends find paddle shifts revolting. We prefer the analog cars of the 90s and early 2000s. Much like a lot of the older generation prefers cars of the 60s. I think the 90s car era is becoming as iconic to the current generation as the 60s was to the generations before. Much like the 60s though, environmental regulations changed the direction of performance cars. To say that we can just build cars like we did in the past is unfortunately no longer feasible.

I feel that with these changes, the target audience has changed too. To me, growing up Ferrari was the pinnacle of automotive beauty and driving sensation targeted at the most passionate auto enthusiasts. Now it seems like they have crammed as much tech as possible into every nook and cranny just because they think it's cool. It seems like their target audience has more in common with the EV crowd than the passionate driver in the way that they want everything as techy as possible. This goes the opposite direction of what the analog cars were and is leaving a lot of fans of that era disgruntled.

There has been a lot to be desired with the designs lately. I think the 296 looks good with the sf90 not too far off, and the rest of the current lineup look lukewarm at best. To me Ferrari was always the most beautiful cars made. Now it seems they either want them to look extremely aggressive or futuristic.

I can't complain too much about all of the turbo hybrid stuff, because that is the direction the whole industry is going, however putting a v6 in the v8 line and the F80 when no competitors are dropping cylinders like that tells me they didn't have to. Especially when previously saying that the v12 is only for the most special cars before putting one in a ****ing crossover.

They have shifted from beauty and sensation to technology and futurism. While they have certainly gained a lot more sales as the result, it feels a lot less passionate and more watered down to me. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with liking the new stuff, as we all have different tastes, but the newer models don't excite me that much compared to the offerings of other brands.

 

Another general rant on new cars from Damian
https://youtu.be/fKEz6PErP98?

 

Come on, tell us how you really feel.

 

Winning LeMans twice has helped

 

The "rise of rivals" is broader than this suggests. Ferrari (and Lamborghini) were once dominating car magazine covers by being the fastest cars on the planet. Now 0-60 is a free-for-all, with everything from Teslas to Taycans vying for the title.

 

I am not sure I fully understand your question, but I just feel I’d love to go back to 1999 and stay there.

The world was a different place, the internet hadn’t yet sucked our souls.
Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein and Freddie Mercury were the heroes of humanity, not Bezos or Gates.

You could have a normal conversation, and geopolitics was ok. Well being was wide spread and we had a sensation of global peace.

In fact I just restarted to buy and watch films on DVD, and yesterday I tried to put a cassette in the original 328’s stereo but it didn’t play and I want to fix it.
I feel that I am fed up with the concept of hype, with all this internet bs and the internet lifestyle, our heads living up in the web 24/7, and that I am going back to a different era, driving the 328 and occasionally listening to something that wasn’t recorded after 1986, when the car was produced.

We all have entered an era niw where passion is a forgotten word, where everything is done to be measured and to get likes, and the Ferrari cars of this era are just the reflex of the life style we have created.

I don’t like the culture of this era, hence I don’t like the new Ferraris.

I want to put a 360 and maybe a 550 or 456 next to the 328 and then with Ferrari I’m done.

Bye

 

It is unbelievable that no one in the car industry seems to have understood that once the 0-60 is not a concern anymore the real thing interesting for the enthusiasts is not the next iPad center console but the car’s sensations, the feelings, and even her smell I’d say. If you have smelled the Ferrari interiors if the ‘70s you understand what I mean: those car’s smell got stuck onto your clothing for days, it was sensual.
Passion, feelings, sensations, is possibly something that today only Pagani still cares about, in a market segment that is deep space for the most.
But can you imagine some Pagani philosophy applied to a 400 hp, 200k $/€ sportscar?
Bye,
Nic

 

I’m doomed to love them. Like all of us red blooded meat eating idiots lol!

Nothing any good makes any sense logically.

 

I should have added a smiley face - it was meant to be funny/sarcastic. I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers. I actually agree with most of what you're saying.

I'm almost 80 but still driving my F430 which I've had for over 5 years. Had a 355 for 9 years prior to that. Never could afford an Enzo era car like a 250GT SWB, 275GT or a Daytona. However, my passion for Ferrari, which goes back to 1961, has waned since Luca left. After I pass the 430 on to the next custodian, I'm done with Ferrari because Ferrari as I see it today has lost its luster. JMHO.

As for the internet, social media and all the hype that goes with modern day "life" I go drive my car, ride my bike or take a long walk (all without the phone) to find peace of mind.

Wiley

 

Things are much different today. While it's true that obviously things change for businesses over time, there weren't current and impending regulations forcing auto makers to move to EV's back in the 1960's or 1980's like in modern time.

Ferrari used to be known for performance, beautiful cars, racing, and winning. Now, not so much.

When Ferrari's are whittled down to 4 cyl hybrid engines or worse, EV's, than what will the motivating factor be to choose a Ferrari over a Hyundai EV or BMW EV? Not the sound and feel of an Italian v8 that's for sure. Look at how the new Mercedes C63 is being received by the market...not good at all.

I don't think this is Ferrari's fault necessarily. The tree huggers want the world to go EV so our beloved large Italian engines are going extinct. Damn shame. But yeah things are much different today, and will be even more different 20 years from now. Ferrari has indeed lost its luster but so has most if not all auto makers.

 

Yesterday I attended a gathering of the local Ferrari club. Just meet up and burgers. The cars filled a good portion of the lot.

I watched the "normal" folks as they noticed the cars and wandered through them, took photos, and generally enjoyed just being able to see and be in the presence of the cars.

We may be burning out on the brand, but for many, it's still the dream and passion it's always been.

 

Hopefully Charles will!!

 

Disclosure: I'm 72. I'm doing my best to avoid being a grumpy old man. Frankly, the odds of me buying a new Ferrari are the same as dividing by zero. The only new Ferrari I have ever purchased was a 2004 Challenge Stradale. Like an idiot, I sold it because I was afraid it was going to go down in value, which it did, for a while, but you know the rest of the story. I'd give almost anything to have that car back again. You want to talk about passion. Nothing about that car made sense. The paint was so bad there were areas where it was nothing but the base coat. Did I care?

Fast forward to today. Here's your choice. Would you rather have a 2005 Super America with a standard transmission or a 812?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2005-ferrari-575-superamerica-27/

https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/812-superfast

I'm sure you can guess which car I'd choose. I would take a 20-year old Ferrari over a brand new car in a heartbeat.

It is more than a standard transmission, although that is a big part of the appeal of a SA. All the new cars are drive by wire. The only difference between a Ferrari and a Mercedes is the computer programing. To me, drive by wire is numb. The feel is not there. For those of you who have never driven a direct drive car, you will never miss it.

I'm fortunate. I have driven a Daytona. (Thanks @malcolmb.) By todays standards, it is a slow poke. That car is one of the most exciting cars I have ever driven. It makes you aware if you do something stupid, you will die. Living on the fault line is part of the appeal. I understand Ferrari cannot build a Daytona again. The lawyers would have an orgasm. It's sad, but life goes on.

 

I think Ferrari has lost its luster with real enthusiasts but has become more of a status symbol for poseurs.

 

I was looking forward to buying my first New Ferrari. Ive owned a 430 and now a 458. I missed ordering a F8. Not sure anything new holds my interest at these price points.

 

By the way: the proper word is "its"

 

****ing grammar po-po.

 

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La Raza forever!

 

The more I think about it, which is always dangerous, drive by wire is the problem. There is a disconnect. You lose that losing feeling.

 

Funny how lambo is now for real enthusiasts. Gold chains are on the Ferrari buyers (apparel?)

 

A similar quality issue: there's a Youtube video by Tavarish about I think a 360 or 430. The number of shims used to line up bodypanels is staggering. I don't think that's normal?

 

I think one of the reasons is fact that modern cars are fast enough and oversills of average customer whom is not retired F1 driver. Cars like F8 or Huracan Performante are scary fast for public road. Many people thinks why I need to spend money for hybrid, when you can get Pista for price similar to 296/sf90.

 

this, it's an actual objective thing

yes cars of the 90's weren't the same as the 60's etc but were still not completely absurd on the road power wise

now we have reached the point where more power is pointless, the roads are way more congested then 20 years ago also

but the reality is Ferrari will still constantly chase more power and buyers will only buy a new model if its more powerful